Hearing loss decisions — 2017

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hip disability, bilateral foot disability, bilateral hand disability, hearing loss disability, and tinnitus are not supported by the evidence of record. The preponderance of the evidence is against these claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is at least as likely as not related to in-service noise exposure, and service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to have started during service, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a finding of current disability for these conditions as defined by VA standards. For his right hand condition with carpal tunnel, the Board finds in favor of the Veteran based on credible lay statements regarding the onset and continuity of symptoms since service.

The Board found no evidence of left ear hearing loss or tinnitus in service and denied the Veteran's claims for service connection based on lack of a nexus to service.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and service connection were denied. The Board found that the March 2009 denial of PTSD was not final, but his claim to reopen this denial is considered a downstream issue which does not require VCAA notice.

The Veteran's appeal involves his bilateral hearing loss and acquired psychiatric disorder. The Board has determined that additional development is necessary, including obtaining updated VA examinations for both conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for a clarifying opinion from the VA examiner who conducted his April 2012 hearing loss examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability is related to his active duty service, including a motor vehicle accident during service.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is presumed to be due to noise exposure in service.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is related to active service and the Board has granted service connection for this condition. The decision on left ear hearing loss is pending as it was addressed in a separate issue.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision.

The Board denied reopening the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus in March 2009. New evidence received since then does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate these claims, is not new and material, and therefore the claims may not be reopened.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss is related to in-service noise exposure and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right and left ear hearing loss are etiologically related to in-service exposure to hazardous noise levels, and therefore service connection is granted.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including atrial fibrillation, left ear hearing loss, low back disability, GERD, wrist and shoulder disabilities, and vertigo have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of current disabilities or a link to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have, as likely as not, precluded him from maintaining substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and work history for the period prior to May 20, 2014.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is service-connected as it was continuous since his last period of active service.,The Veteran's depressive disorder is service-connected as it is due to his service-connected hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal for special monthly compensation (SMC) is denied as he does not meet the criteria for SMC based on need for aid and attendance due to non-service connected right lung adenocarcinoma. The preponderance of evidence shows that his need for additional care is due to lung cancer, which is not service-connected.